We have played up this year as being our 10th year in technology publishing. Sept. 1992 was my very first issue of the predecessor of this publication called Hospitality & Automation. In my first issue I focused on property management systems for hotels. There was no Internet to speak of and most of the PMSs being installed were running on mini-computer systems, mostly from IBM. From an advertising standpoint, I had 12 PMS vendors that trusted I would do a good job with their money and in truth I knew nothing about publishing. The 12 vendors in my first issue (with their current company names where appropriate) were: Multi-Systems, Inc; Lodgistix (SoftBrands); Hotel Information Systems; ECI (Galaxy); CSS Hotel Systems; Computerized Lodging Systems (Hotel Information Systems); National Guest Systems (Visual One); Resort Data Processing; Springer Miller Systems; Fidelio (Micros-Fidelio); Marlboro Computer Systems (Ramesys); and Encore (SoftBrands). It is amazing that they are all still around and are still doing business with us. I guess their trust paid off.

When I started publishing on technology I was deathly afraid of IAHA (now HFTP), the association that produced HITEC. I thought they were going to think I was competing with them and try to destroy me. Today, we are their exclusive affiliated technology publication. I am on the HITEC Advisory Board and I have also coordinated the CIO General Session at HITEC for the last four years. Go figure. When I started publishing, I feared the industry’s CIOs. I had only known them from my career of selling technology and they were tough. Last month I put on our industry’s first CIO Summit and most of them were there not because they were convinced that they needed to be there, but because I asked them to be there.

It has been quite a ride for 10 years. I had a few business partners for a short period of time and had mixed results from those experiences, but I did learn from them. In March of 1995 I hired my first full-time employee, Geneva Rinehart. She was fresh out of college and when I interviewed her she told me she would be perfect for the business and the things she didn’t know, she would learn quickly. I trusted her. We are still working together (most of you know that she actually runs the business) and a milestone was recently reached. Geneva and her husband Rick had their first child on Sept. 21, a little girl named Madison Eileen. She was 9lbs, 9oz. Madison better call me Uncle Rich because I don’t see my relationship with Geneva changing any time soon (click on Pictures on the Navigation bar to see little Madie). In 1995 I interviewed a technology hotshot from Westin Hotels & Resorts named Jon Inge, who is now one of the industry’s most respected consultants and has written our feature article for years. I have established so many relationships over 10 years, I wish I could mention them all.

When I started publishing, the one piece of advice I received that I always remembered was that I only had one real goal: When the magazine showed up on a desk, I needed to make sure the person receiving it would open it. I took this advice to heart. Do I really need to include a joke page? Do I really need to fly to someone’s location to interview them? Do I need to have cartoons? Do I need to have an Unsung Heroes page? I compete with some very large publishing companies and have successfully separated Hospitality Upgrade by not being afraid to do things differently. Thankfully, it has often worked.

Ten years is a long time in anyone’s life. The world and my little business have changed dramatically. I think I am very fortunate because I truly love what I do. I have met so many people along the way who have positively impacted my life and I have tried to return the favor. I have also had some people leave my life that I miss every day. But that is part of living, right?

Thank you for letting me reflect. I promise not to do this again … at least not for another 10 years. Before I go, let me have a little fun. There is a correlation between the cover of this issue and the Sept. 1992 issue of Hospitality & Automation. Even if you have never seen the original issue, you might be able to guess the connection. If you think you know, e-mail me at rsiegel@hospitalityupgrade.com. We will have a drawing from all the correct e-mails and will provide a very worthy prize for the winner.

Thanks again for your support; this has been quite a trip for me.